Method and system of displaying information related to items offered for sale in a network-based marketplace

ABSTRACT

A system for transmitting information related to a network-based marketplace includes identifying information that may be interesting, useful, and entertaining to the users and to the potential users of the network-based marketplace. The identified information may be other than information that is already being displayed in listings by the network-based marketplace. The identified information may be about the sellers, the buyers or other items related to the items offered for sale.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional patent application claiming priority under 35USC § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/022,580entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DISPLAYING INFORMATION RELATED TO ITEMSOFFERED FOR SALE” that was filed on Jan. 22, 2008, and is incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates generally to the field of dataprocessing and, in one example embodiment, to a system to displayinformation related to items associated with a network-basedmarketplace.

BACKGROUND

Network-based marketplaces provide the sellers opportunities to offertheir items to potential buyers online. The items may be offered forsale in an auction-format or in a fixed-price-format. Some sellers maybe occasional sellers selling a few items, while other sellers may bepower sellers selling hundreds or thousands of items.

Potential buyers may visit the web sites to browse and search for itemsthat they may be interested in buying. In an auction-format, there maybe multiple buyers interested in the same item listed by a seller. Thebuyers may browse the listings and review the information provided bythe sellers before deciding to place a bid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in thefigures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicatesimilar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system that uses supplementalinformation related to the items offered for sale, in accordance withsome example embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating examples that may be used topresent the supplemental information, in accordance with some exampleembodiments.

FIG. 3 is an example interface that includes a supplemental informationdisplay area and information related to an item offered for sale, inaccordance with some example embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a display interface that may be used todisplay the supplemental information, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates examples of application modules that may be includedin the supplemental information applications, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a flow diagram corresponding to amethod that may be used to display the supplemental information, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6B illustrates an example of a flow diagram corresponding to amethod that may be used to push the supplemental information, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example system diagram that may be used, inaccordance with some example embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example block diagram showing multiple marketplaceapplications that may be provided as part of a network-basedmarketplace, in accordance with some example embodiments.

FIGS. 9A-9B illustrates a high-level entity-relationship diagram,illustrating various example tables, in accordance with some exampleembodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example diagram of a representation of a machinein the example form of a computer system that may be used, in accordancewith some example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to some example embodiments, a method and a system fordisplaying information associated with items offered for sale isdisclosed. The items may include at least those currently offered forsale or those that were offered for sale. The information may be aboutsellers, buyers or other items related to the items offered for sale.The information may be presented together with the items currentlyoffered for sale. For some example embodiments, the information may bepresented independently of the items currently offered for sale.

Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and fromthe detailed description that follows. In the following description, forpurposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments. It will beevident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present descriptionmay be practiced without these specific details.

In some example embodiments, a computer system (e.g., a client machine,server machine etc) configured by an application may constitute a“module” that is configured and operates to perform certain operationsas described herein below. Accordingly, the term “module” should beunderstood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that isphysically constructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired) ortemporarily configured (e.g. programmed) to operate in a certain mannerand to perform certain operations described herein.

Introduction

In traditional network-based marketplaces associated with electronicpublishing and/or sales systems, there may be many items offered forsale at the same time. The items offered for sale are often associatedwith listings that are presented in similar format with, for example,price information, description information, shipping information, etc.Use of the similar format does not enhance the items desirability. It istypically up to the sellers of the items to create a description that isattractive to the potential buyers. Often, the description is only aboutthe item offered for sale. Some network-based marketplaces may storeinformation about the sellers, the buyers and the items offered for saleover a long period of time.

Typically, an item offered for sale in a network-based marketplace mayremain available or active for a certain period of time. For example,when using the auction format, an item may remain available for seven(7) days before the auction ends. During that period, the level ofactivities may be sporadic, and it may be boring for users to view thesame information associated with the item for any extended period oftime.

For some example embodiments, the stored information may be used toattract users to the network-based marketplaces, to enhance the userexperience when buying or selling the items offered for sale, or toentertain the users. The stored information may be used in conjunctionwith information available from other sources external to thenetwork-based marketplaces. The combination of at least the storedinformation or the information available from the other sources may bereferred to generally as supplemental information. In the followingdescription, the term “user” may be used to refer to a buyer, apotential buyer, a seller, a potential seller, or just someone who isviewing the supplemental information (e.g., for entertainment).

Data Structure

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system that uses supplementalinformation related to the items offered for sale, in accordance withsome example embodiments. System 100 includes processor 125, marketplaceapplication(s) 130, and one or more databases 105-120. The databases mayinclude seller database 105, buyer database 110, and item database 115.There may also be a third-party database 120. The seller database 105and the buyer database 110 may be configured to store information aboutthe sellers and the buyers who participate in a network-basedmarketplace associated with the system 100. The items database 115 maybe configured to store information about the items that are currentlyoffered for sale in the networked-base marketplace. The items database115 may also be configured to store information about items that weresold. For some example embodiments, the items database 115 may storeinformation about items that were listed for sale but were not sold orcanceled. The third-party database 120 may store information about theitems that may not be available in the seller database 105, the buyerdatabase 110 or the item database 115. For example, the third-partydatabase 120 may be associated with a manufacturer of the item and mayoffer how-to-use information. The third-party database 120 may beassociated with a company that offers information for a fee.

For some example embodiments, the marketplace application(s) 130 may usethe information stored in one or more of the databases 105-120 togenerate listing 135 to present information associated with an itemoffered for sale. For example, when the listing 135 is associated withan auction item, the listing 135 may include standard information suchas price, description, shipping, image, seller's information, seller'srating, current number of bids, current bidders and current bid price.For some example embodiments, the marketplace application(s) 130 may usethe information stored in the one or more databases 105-120 to generatethe supplemental information 140. For example, the supplementalinformation 140 may include recent purchases by the highest bidder, anitem review guide, an item user guide, or interesting items previouslypurchased by one of the current bidder, etc.

The supplemental information 140 may generally include information thatis interesting and entertaining. The supplemental information 140 mayinclude information that is not normally included in the listing 135. Itmay be viewed that the supplemental information is indirectly related tothe item associated with the listing 135. For example, the listing 135may include directly related information such as price, item condition,seller, shipping, etc., while the supplemental information 140 mayinclude indirectly related information such as the seller's other activetransactions, the seller's previous transactions, the buyer's otheractive transactions, the buyer's previous transactions, the prices ofsimilar items in other active and closed transactions, the recentpurchases by the seller, the recent purchases by the buyer, etc. It maybe noted that the supplemental information may be automatically pushedto a user rather than the user having to perform one or more searches.

Supplemental Information

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating examples that may be used topresent the supplemental information, in accordance with some exampleembodiments. Supplemental information database 220 may includeinformation stored in one or more of the databases 105-120 illustratedin FIG. 1. The supplemental information database 220 may be coupled witha processor 205 and supplemental information applications 209. Theprocessor 205 may execute instructions associated with the supplementalinformation application 209, which may include supplemental informationbroadcast application 210 and supplemental information displayapplication 211. The supplemental information applications 209 may beincluded in the marketplace applications 130 (illustrated in FIG. 1).

The supplemental information broadcast application 210 may retrieve andprocess the supplemental information from the supplemental informationdatabase 220 and then broadcast the supplemental information as videostreams. For some example embodiments, the supplemental information maybe broadcast for entertainment purposes. For example, the broadcast ofthe supplemental information may encourage users to visit thenetwork-based marketplace. Any standard broadcast techniques and devicesmay be used to broadcast the supplemental information 140. For example,the supplemental information 140 may be transmitted to a satellite andthen retransmitted to one or more receiving stations.

Broadcast server 225 may be configured to receive broadcast signals. Thebroadcast server 225 may also be connected to the network 221. Merely asan example, a dotted line is used to demonstrate a connection betweenthe broadcast server 225 and the supplemental information broadcastapplication 210. The supplemental information 140 may be transmitted bythe broadcast server 225 to the receiving client 240. The receivingclient 240 may be a television or any multimedia device capable ofreceiving and displaying the broadcast signals.

The supplemental information display applications 211 may retrieve andprocess the supplemental information from the supplemental informationdatabase 220 and then send the supplemental information 140 to thenetwork 221 via the communication interface 215. For some exampleembodiments, the supplemental information 140 may be used to generateone or more multimedia programs. The multimedia programs may include,for example, texts, images, video streams, etc. The supplementalinformation 140 may be automatically pushed using available pushingtechnologies. For some example embodiments, the supplemental information140 may be pushed to a webpage. The receiving clients 230-235 mayinclude web browser software to enable a user to view the webpage. Thewebpage may be viewed using a wireless device (e.g., receiving client235) or a wired device (e.g., receiving client 230). The supplementalinformation 140 may be pushed and viewed as part of the listing 135 orindependent of the listing 135. The supplemental information 140 may bepushed to the same webpage as the listing 135. Alternatively, thesupplemental information 140 may be pushed to a webpage separate fromthe webpage associated with the listing 135.

The supplemental information 140 may affect a user's decision about avalue of an item offered for sale. For example, when the supplementalinformation 140 indicates that an item similar to the item offered forsale was sold at a higher price than a current asking price, the usermay be more inclined to purchase the item at the current asking price.The supplemental information 140 may affect the user's decision aboutpurchasing or placing a bid for an item offered for sale. For example, auser may determine against placing a bid or making a purchase when thesupplemental information 140 indicates that the seller of the itemoffered for sale recently received a fraud complaint.

Database Operations

For some example embodiments, the supplemental information applications209 may include operations that search for a subset of the activelistings in the items database 115 (illustrated in FIG. 1) and generatethe supplemental information 140 related to these active listings.

For some example embodiments, the subset of the active listings mayinclude those active listings that are about to end and/or those activelistings that have many activities. For example, when using the auctionformat, the activities may include bidding activities by potentialbuyers. The supplemental information 140 may include information relatedto the listing itself. For example, the supplemental information 140 mayprovide graphical representation that emphasizes the rapidness of thenew bids coming in, the information about the potential buyers whosubmit the bids, and so on. The supplemental information, the dynamicchange in the price of the item, and/or the dynamic change in theauction remaining time may together generate excitement and livelinessto the active listings.

For some example embodiments, the subset of the active listings mayinclude those listings that have slow activities. In these situations,the supplemental information 140 may generate excitement to fill the lowactivities and possibly to generate activities. For some exampleembodiments, the supplemental information 140 may be generated for allactive listings. When the listings close or when the items are sold, theassociated supplemental information may be stored in the database 220.

Web Page Interface Example

FIG. 3 is an example listing interface for an item offered for sale, inaccordance with some example embodiments. Interface 300 may beassociated with an item that is offered for sale using an auctionformat. The interface 300 may include title information 310, seller'sidentification 315, other seller's information 320 (e.g., feedback, askquestion, favorite, other items, etc.), current high bidder information325, total number of bids 330, remaining time information 340, currentbid price 345, and so on. There may be a display area 305 to display animage or information related to the item offered for sale. The interface300 may also include other information including, for example, shippinginformation, etc. The information described above with the interface 300may be considered standard information.

For some example embodiments, the interface 300 may also include asupplemental information display area 335 to display the supplementalinformation 140, which may be presented by the supplemental informationdisplay application 211 (illustrated in FIG. 2). Merely as an example,the supplemental information display area 335 is configured to bedisplayed in the same webpage as the interface 300. It may be noted thatlocation of the supplemental information display area 335 illustrated inFIG. 3 is for illustration purpose only and is not meant to berestrictive.

For some example embodiments, the supplemental information display area335 may be presented as a separate webpage or in a separate window(e.g., pop-up window). For some example embodiments, the supplementalinformation display area 335 may be configured to display one or more ofimages, text, audio, and video information individually or incombinations.

For some example embodiments, when the supplemental information displayarea 335 is configured to display video information, the supplementalinformation display area 335 may display a software implemented videoplayer. An example of a software implemented video player is REALPLAYERvideo player from RealNetworks, Inc. of Seattle, Wash.

For some other example embodiments, the supplemental information displayarea 335 may display a Universal Resource Locator (URL) link. The URLlink may be associated with another interface to display thesupplemental information 140. When the URL link is selected, this otherinterface may be displayed. For example, this other interface mayinclude a software-implemented video player.

For some example embodiments, the supplemental display area 335 may beassociated with an interface that is different and separate from theinterface (e.g., interface 300) used to display the information aboutthe item offered for sale. For example, the supplemental display area335 may be associated with a web browser window, a desktop applicationwindow, a screen saver application, and so on.

Video Examples

For some example embodiments, when the supplemental information ispresented as a video, the supplemental information display application211 may perform operations that retrieve video format of thesupplemental information 140 from the database 220 (illustrated in FIG.2). The video format may be in a format that enables storing anddelivery efficiency. This may relate to a size requirement to store thesupplemental information 140 and bandwidth requirement to deliver thesupplemental information 140.

For some example embodiments, the supplemental information 140 may bepushed as snippets. The snippets may be within a time period such as,for example, five minutes. This may entice the users who are potentialbuyers or bidders to stay on with a listing for the duration of thesnippets. This may be convenient because the potential buyers may notneed to spend time pulling information from the databases, as istypically done when they have to select many of the options available onthe interface 300. The supplemental information may be pushed bysupplemental information display applications 211 to the potentialbuyers. This technique of pushing or delivering the supplementalinformation to the potential buyers may help these buyers make moreinformed bidding decisions (e.g., as in an auction format) or purchasedecisions (e.g., as in non-auction format) within a relatively shorttime.

Screen-Saver Examples

For some example embodiments, the supplemental information displayapplications 211 may be configured to push the supplemental information140 automatically to a display screen in the form of screen savers.

The supplemental information display applications 211 may detect that auser is signed in to the network-based marketplace. When there is noactivity by the user for a certain time period, the supplementalinformation display application 211 may display the supplementalinformation 140 as screen savers. The supplemental information displayapplication 211 may interact with an operating system (OS) of the user'scomputer system (e.g., receiving client 230 or 235) to display thesupplemental information 140 as the screen savers.

For some example embodiments, the supplemental information displayapplications 211 may dynamically change the supplemental information 140being displayed. For example, when a buyer specified two or more itemsto be included in a watchlist (managed by an items watchlistapplication, as described below), the supplemental information displayapplications 211 may change from the supplemental information associatedwith the first item in the watchlist to the supplemental informationassociated with the second item in the watchlist, and so on.

Broadcast Examples

As described above, the supplemental information broadcast application210 may push the supplemental information 140 as video streams usingbroadcast signals. In these situations, a broadcast channel may beconfigured to receive the supplemental information 140. Using thistechnique, a user may not need to visit a website associated with thenetwork-based system 702 to view the supplemental information. Thesupplemental information 140 may be transmitted for entertainmentpurposes by the users who may or may not want to purchase any of theitems associated with the supplemental information 140.

For some examples embodiments, the supplemental information 140 may bestored for subsequent delivery or viewing. For example, the supplementalinformation 140 may be stored using a device similar to a TIVO digitalvideo recorder of Tivo, Inc. in Alviso, Calif.

For some example embodiments, the supplemental information 140 may betransmitted via an Internet Protocol (IP) address. This may betransmitted as streaming video via the network 221 (illustrated in FIG.2).

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a display interface that may be used todisplay the supplemental information, in accordance with someembodiments. Merely as an example, display interface 400 may displayvideo, text, and images information which may be related to the items,the seller(s), and the buyer(s). The display interface 400 may be atelevision monitor or screen, and it may display the supplementalinformation 140 received via broadcast signals as video streams. Thedisplay interface 400 may be associated with a computer system, and itmay display the supplemental information 140 received via a network asscreen savers, video streams, web pages, etc.

The supplemental information 140 displayed on the display screen 400 mayinclude, for example, seller's rating information 405, buyer's ratinginformation 410, other items offered for sale by the same seller 425,other items bid by the same buyer 430, a bidding pattern of the samebuyer 435, recent purchases by the same buyer 440, winning bid pricesfrom closed auction of similar items 415, prices of other similar itemscurrently available 420, highest winning bid price for an item today445, weirdest item listed today 450, review information about an item455, and any other information 460 that may be useful and/orentertaining to the users.

For some example embodiments, one or more indicators may be associatedwith each item offered for sale. An indicator may be set when the itemfalls into a category that may be considered to be interesting to theusers. The indicators may enable the supplemental informationapplications 209 to identify the item and to include its information inthe supplemental information 140.

Application Modules

FIG. 5 illustrates examples of application modules that may be includedin the supplemental information applications, in accordance with someembodiments. The supplemental information applications 500 may besimilar to the supplemental information applications 209 described inFIG. 2. The supplemental information applications 500 also include videoplayer applications 570, video stream generation applications 575 andscreen saver applications 585.

The information retrieval applications 580 may search the databases 220to find the supplemental information 140 related to the items offeredfor sale, the sellers' information, the buyers' information, etc. Thesupplemental information 140 may be sent to the video stream generationapplications 575 where video information may be generated. The videoinformation may then be sent to the video player applications 570 toenable the supplemental information 140 to be viewed by the users.

For some example embodiments, the screen saver applications 585 mayenable displaying the supplemental information 140 as screen savers. Thescreen savers applications 585 may monitor for user's inactivity and maydetermine content of the screen savers to be displayed. The broadcastapplications 590 may receive the supplemental information 140 from theinformation retrieval applications 580 and may generate and delivervideo streams using broadcast signals.

Flow Diagrams

FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a flow diagram corresponding to amethod that may be used to display the supplemental information, inaccordance with some embodiments. The method may be performed by thesupplemental information applications 209 illustrated in FIG. 2 (orapplications 500 illustrated in FIG. 5). Although the method may bedescribed with items offered for sale in the auction format, it may alsobe used with other non-auction formats. The method may start at block605. The method may continue to one or more of blocks 610, 615 and 620.At block 610, auctions that are near the end may be identified. At block615, auctions that have many activities may be identified. At block 620,auctions that have interesting items may be identified. Other criteriamay also be used to identify the items. As mentioned above, the itemsmay not necessarily be associated with an auction. For example, block610 may be used to identify an item that is nearing the end of itslisting duration; block 615 may be associated with an item that manyusers have viewed; block 620 may be associated with an interesting item.

From one or more of the blocks 610, 615 and 620, the method may continueto block 625 where information related to the item may be retrieved froma database. Information may also be received from one or more externalsources. At block 630, the information received at block 625 may beprocessed to generate the supplemental information. Depending on thedestination, the supplemental information may be converted to a formatappropriate for display. At block 635, the supplemental information maybe displayed. This may be via a video player, as a screen saver, via abroadcast channel, as a webpage, as a pop-up window, etc. The method mayend at block 640.

FIG. 6B illustrates an example of a flow diagram corresponding to amethod that may be used to push the supplemental information, inaccordance with some embodiments. The method may be performed by thesupplemental information applications 209 illustrated in FIG. 2 (orapplications 500 illustrated in FIG. 5). The method may start at block650. At block 655, items that are active may be reviewed. A set of oneor more criteria may be used when reviewing the active items so that asubset of the active items may be selected, as shown in block 660. Forexample, the set of criteria may be used to select items that have lowactivities, items that have high activities, items that are at the endof the listing duration, etc. At block 665, the supplemental information140 associated with the selected items may be generated using theinformation stored in the databases (e.g., databases 105-120 illustratedin FIG. 1). The supplemental information 140 may be generated usingvarious combinations of the information stored in the databases formingcustomized information. For some example embodiments, the customizedinformation may be used in entertainment programs which may be viewed bythe users via a network (e.g., the Internet) or via broadcast signals(e.g., television signals).

It may be noted that the method generally pushes information stored inthe database toward the users for viewing. There may be minimal or norequirements on the parts of the users to pull the information.

From block 665, the method may then continue to one or more of theblocks 670-685. At block 670, the supplemental information 140 may bepushed to the users via broadcast signals. At block 675, thesupplemental information 140 may be pushed to the users via a network asa video stream. At block 680, the supplemental information 140 may bepushed to the users via a network as a webpage. At block 685, thesupplemental information 140 may be pushed to the users via a network asa screen saver. The method may end at block 690.

For some example embodiments, instead of selecting a subset of theactive items, any information related to any of the active items ornon-active items may be used to generate the supplemental information.

Platform Architecture

FIG. 7 illustrates an example system diagram that may be used, inaccordance with some example embodiments. System 700 may include anetwork and may be implemented using client-server architecture. Acommerce platform, in the example form of a network-based system 702,may provide server-side functionality, via network 704 (e.g., theInternet) to one or more clients. FIG. 7 illustrates, for example, a webclient 706 (e.g., a browser, such as the Internet Explorer® browserdeveloped by Microsoft® Corporation of Redmond, Wash.), and aprogrammatic client 708 executing on respective client machines 710 and712.

The network-based system 702 may include an application programinterface (API) server 714 and a web server 716. The API server 714 andthe web server 716 may be coupled to one or more application servers718. The API server 714 and the web server 716 may provide programmaticand web interfaces to the one or more application servers 718. Theapplication servers 718 may host one or more marketplace applications720 and one or more payment applications 722. The application servers718 may be coupled to one or more database servers 724 that facilitateaccess to information stored in one or more databases 726.

For some example embodiments, the marketplace applications 720 mayprovide a number of marketplace functions and services to users thataccess the network-based system 702. The payment applications 722 mayprovide a number of payment services and functions to the users. Thepayment applications 722 may allow the users to quantify and accumulatevalue (e.g., in a commercial currency, such as the U.S. dollar, or aproprietary currency, such as “points”) in accounts, and then later toredeem the accumulated value for products (e.g., goods or services) thatare made available via the marketplace applications 720.

In the current example, the marketplace applications 720 and the paymentapplications 722 are shown in FIG. 1 to form part of the network-basedsystem 702. It will be appreciated that, in alternative exampleembodiments, the payment applications 722 may form part of a paymentservice that is separate and distinct from the network-based system 702.

In the current example, the system 700 shown in FIG. 7 employsclient-server architecture. It will be appreciated that the exampleembodiments are of course not limited to such architecture and couldequally well find applications in a distributed or peer-to-peerarchitecture. The marketplace applications 720 and payment applications722 may also be implemented as standalone software programs, which donot necessarily have networking capabilities.

The web client 706 may access services and functions provided by themarketplace applications 720 and the payment applications 722 via theweb interface supported by the web server 716. Similarly, theprogrammatic client 708 may access services and functions provided bythe marketplace applications 720 and the payment applications 722 viathe programmatic interface provided by the API server 714. Theprogrammatic client 708 may, for example, be a seller application (e.g.,the TURBOLISTER application developed by eBay Inc., of San Jose, Calif.)to enable sellers to author and manage listings on the network-basedsystem 702 in an off-line manner and to perform batch-modecommunications between the programmatic client 708 and the network-basedsystem 702.

FIG. 7 also illustrates a third party application 730, executing on athird party server machine 730, as having programmatic access to thenetwork-based system 702 via the programmatic interface provided by theAPI server 714. For example, the third party application 728 may,utilizing information retrieved from the network-based system 702,support one or more features or functions on a website hosted by a thirdparty, referred to as a third party website. The third party websitemay, for example, provide one or more promotional, marketplace orpayment functions that are supported by the relevant applications of thenetwork-based system 702.

Marketplace Application(s)

FIG. 8 illustrates an example block diagram showing multiple marketplaceapplications that may be provided as part of a network-basedmarketplace, in accordance with some example embodiments. Thenetwork-based system 702 may include various market place applications720 and payment applications 722.

The marketplace applications 720 may include one or more publicationapplications 800 which may provide a number of listing and price-settingmechanisms whereby a seller may list goods or services for sale, a buyercan express interest in or indicate a desire to purchase such goods orservices, and a price can be set for a transaction pertaining to thegoods or services.

The marketplace applications 720 may include one or more auctionapplications 802 which support auction-format listing and price settingmechanisms (e.g., English, Dutch, Vickrey, Chinese, Double, Reverseauctions, etc.). The various auction applications 802 may also provide anumber of features in support of such auction-format listings, such as areserve price feature whereby a seller may specify a reserve price inconnection with a listing and a proxy-bidding feature whereby a biddermay invoke automated proxy bidding.

The marketplace applications 720 may include one or more fixed-priceapplications 804. The fixed-price applications 804 may supportfixed-price listing formats (e.g., the traditional classifiedadvertisement-type listing or a catalogue listing) and buyout-typelistings. Specifically, buyout-type listings (e.g., including theBuy-It-Now (BIN) technology developed by eBay Inc., of San Jose, Calif.)may be offered in conjunction with an auction-format listing, and allowa buyer to purchase goods or services, which are also being offered forsale via an auction, for a fixed-price that may be higher than thestarting price of the auction.

The marketplace applications 720 may include one or more storeapplications 806. The store applications 806 may allow sellers to grouptheir listings within a “virtual” store, which may be branded andotherwise personalized by and for the sellers. Such a virtual store mayalso offer promotions, incentives and features that are specific andpersonalized to a relevant seller.

The marketplace applications 720 may include one or more reputationapplications 808. The reputation applications 808 may allow parties thattransact utilizing the network-based system 702 to establish, build, andmaintain reputations, which may be made available and published topotential trading partners. Consider that where, for example, thenetwork-based system 702 supports person-to-person trading, users mayhave no history or other reference information whereby thetrustworthiness and credibility of potential trading partners may beassessed. The reputation applications 808 may allow a user, for examplethrough feedback provided by other transaction partners, to establish areputation within the network-based system 702 over time. Otherpotential trading partners may then reference such a reputation for thepurposes of assessing credibility and trustworthiness.

The marketplace applications 720 may include one or more personalizationapplications 810. The personalization applications 810 may allow usersof the network-based system 702 to personalize various aspects of theirinteractions with the network-based system 702. For example a user may,utilizing an appropriate personalization application(s) 810, create apersonalized reference page at which information regarding transactionsto which the user is (or has been) a party may be viewed. Further, apersonalization application 810 may enable a user to personalizelistings and other aspects of their interactions with the network-basedsystem 702 and other parties.

For some example embodiments, the marketplace applications 720 mayinclude international application(s) 812. The internationalapplication(s) 812 may be used by the network-based system 702 tosupport a number of marketplaces that are customized for specificgeographic regions. For example, there may be a version of thenetwork-based system 702 customized for the United Kingdom, and theremay be another version of the network-based system 702 customized forthe United States. Each of these versions may operate as an independentmarketplace, or they may be customized (or internationalized)presentations of a common underlying marketplace.

For some example embodiments, the marketplace application 720 mayinclude navigation applications 814 to facilitate navigating of thenetwork-based system 702. For example, the navigation applications 814may include a search module and a browse module. The search module mayenable keyword searches of listings published via the network-basedsystem 702. The browse module may allow users to browse variouscategory, catalogue, or inventory data structures according to whichlistings may be classified within the network-based system 702. Variousother navigation applications modules may be provided to supplement thesearch and browse modules.

In order to make listings, available via the network-based system 702,as visually informing and attractive as possible, the marketplaceapplications 720 may include one or more imaging applications 816. Usersmay upload images for inclusion within listings. An imaging application816 may also operate to incorporate images within viewed listings. Theimaging applications 816 may also support one or more promotionalfeatures, such as image galleries that are presented to potentialbuyers. For example, sellers may pay an additional fee to have an imageincluded within a gallery of images for promoted items.

For some example embodiments, the marketplace applications 720 mayinclude one or more listing creation applications 818. The listingcreation applications 818 may allow sellers conveniently to authorlistings pertaining to goods or services that they wish to transact viathe network-based system 702. As will be described in more detail, thelisting creation applications 818 may include modules that enablesuggestions of item descriptions, in some example embodiments.

For some example embodiments, the marketplace applications 720 mayinclude listing management applications 820 to allow sellers to managesuch goods or services listings. Specifically, where a particular sellerhas authored and/or published a large number of listings, the managementof such listings may present a challenge. The listing managementapplications 820 may provide a number of features (e.g., auto-relisting,inventory level monitors, etc.) to assist the seller in managing suchlistings.

One or more post-listing management applications 822 also assist sellerswith a number of activities that typically occurs post-listing. Forexample, upon completion of an auction facilitated by one or moreauction applications 802, a seller may wish to leave feedback regardinga particular buyer. To this end, a post-listing management application822 may provide an interface to one or more reputation applications 808,so as to allow the seller conveniently to provide feedback regardingmultiple buyers to the reputation applications 808. As another example,upon completion of an auction where the goods or services has not sold,the item may automatically be relisted in the auction application(s) 802and/or the fixed-price application(s) 804.

The marketplace applications 720 may include dispute resolutionapplications 824. The dispute resolution applications 824 providemechanisms whereby disputes arising between transacting parties may beresolved. For example, the dispute resolution applications 824 mayprovide guided procedures whereby the parties are guided through anumber of steps in an attempt to settle a dispute. In the event that thedispute cannot be settled via the guided procedures, the dispute may beescalated to a third party mediator or arbitrator.

The marketplace applications 720 may include fraud preventionapplications 826. A number of fraud prevention applications 826implement various fraud detection and prevention mechanisms to reducethe occurrence of fraud within the network-based system 702.

The marketplace applications 720 may include messaging applications 828.The messaging applications 828 are responsible for the generation anddelivery of messages to users of the network-based system 702. Suchmessages, for example, advise users regarding the status of listings atthe network-based system 702 (e.g., providing “outbid” notices tobidders during an auction process or to provide promotional andmerchandising information to users).

The marketplace applications 720 may include merchandising applications830. The merchandising applications 830 may support variousmerchandising functions that are made available to sellers to enablesellers to increase sales via the network-based system 702. Themerchandising applications 830 also operate the various merchandisingfeatures that may be invoked by sellers, and may monitor and track thesuccess of merchandising strategies employed by sellers.

The network-based system 702 itself, or one or more parties thattransact via the network-based system 702, may operate loyalty programsthat are supported by one or more loyalty/promotions applications 832.For example, a buyer may earn loyalty or promotions points for eachtransaction established and/or concluded with a particular seller, andmay be offered a reward for which accumulated loyalty points can beredeemed.

The marketplace applications 702 may include supplemental informationapplications 834. The supplemental information applications 834 mayretrieve information related to items offered for sale from thedatabases 726 (illustrated in FIG. 7). The databases 726 may include oneor more databases 105-120 (illustrated in FIG. 1). The supplementalinformation applications 834 may interact with one or more of theauction application(s) 802, fixed-price applications 804, reputationapplications 808, merchandising applications 830, and other applicationsof the marketplace applications 720. The supplemental informationapplications 834 may include applications that are associated withcausing one or more of text, images, audio, and video information to bedisplayed using an interface associated with the network-based system702.

Even though the context of this description is with regard tomarketplace applications, it is to be understood by those of skill inthe art that the described subject matter may also be applicable toother types of applications for various types of transactions. Thetransactions may include those between a single seller and a singlebuyer or may include those between a single seller and multiple buyers,and may include selling a catalog-type product, or even a more uniqueproduct. It may also be noted that although the description may refer toa seller or a buyer in commerce or marketplace environments, certainaspects of the description may also be applicable to non-commerceenvironments.

Database Tables

FIG. 9A is a high-level entity-relationship diagram, illustratingvarious tables 900 that may be maintained within the databases 726, andthat are utilized by and support the applications 720 and 722. A usertable 902 contains a record for each registered user of thenetwork-based system 702, and may include identifier, address andfinancial instrument information pertaining to each such registereduser. A user may operate as a seller, a buyer, or both, within thenetwork-based system 702. In one example embodiment, a buyer may be auser that has accumulated value (e.g., commercial or proprietarycurrency), and is accordingly able to exchange the accumulated value foritems that are offered for sale by the network-based system 702.

The tables 900 also include an items table 904 in which are maintaineditem records for goods and services that are available to be, or havebeen, transacted via the network-based system 702. Each item recordwithin the items table 904 may furthermore be linked to one or more userrecords within the user table 902, so as to associate a seller and oneor more actual or potential buyers with each item record.

A transaction table 906 contains a record for each transaction (e.g., apurchase or sale transaction) pertaining to items for which recordsexist within the items table 904.

An order table 918 is populated with order records, each order recordbeing associated with an order. Each order, in turn, may be with respectto one or more transactions for which records exist within thetransaction table 906.

Bid records within a bids table 910 each relate to a bid received at thenetwork-based system 702 in connection with an auction-format listingsupported by an auction application 802. A feedback table 912 isutilized by one or more reputation applications 808, in one exampleembodiment, to construct and maintain reputation information concerningusers. A history table 914 maintains a history of transactions to whicha user has been a party. One or more attributes tables 916 recordattribute information pertaining to items for which records exist withinthe items table 904. Considering only a single example of such anattribute, the attributes tables 916 may indicate a currency attributeassociated with a particular item, the currency attribute identifyingthe currency of a price for the relevant item as specified in by aseller. Supplemental information table 920 may include information thatmay be used to push the supplemental information 140 to the users.

FIG. 9B provides further details regarding a supplemental informationtable shown in FIG. 9C that may be maintained within the databases 726.As illustrated, the supplemental information table 920 may includemultiple fields. Each of the fields may be associated with somesupplemental information (e.g., supplemental information 952-956) thatmay be pushed to the users.

Computer System

FIG. 10 illustrates an example diagram of a representation of a machinein the example form of a computer system that may be used, in accordancewith some example embodiments. A set of instructions, for causing themachine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussedherein, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machineoperates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) toother machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate inthe capacity of a server or a client machine in server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine may be a server computer, a clientcomputer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance,a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executinga set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions tobe taken by that machine. Further, while a single machine isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include anycollection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

In the current example, computer system 1000 may include a processor1002 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit(GPU), or both), a main memory 1004 and a static memory 1006, whichcommunicate with each other via a bus 1008. The computer system 1000 mayfurther include a video display unit 1010 (e.g., liquid crystals display(LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 1000 alsoincludes an input device 1012 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 1014 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 1016, a signal generationdevice 1018 (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device 1020.

The disk drive unit 1016 includes a machine-readable medium 1022 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 624)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein. The instructions 1024 may also reside, completely or at leastpartially, within the main memory 1004, the static memory 1006, and/orwithin the processor 1002 during execution thereof by the computersystem 1000. The main memory 1004 and the processor 1002 also mayconstitute machine-readable media.

The instructions 1024 may further be transmitted or received over anetwork 1026 via the network interface device 1020. Applications thatmay include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadlyinclude a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodimentsimplement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardwaremodules or devices with related control and data signals communicatedbetween and through the modules, or as portions of anapplication-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system isapplicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

In example embodiments, a computer system (e.g., a standalone, client orserver computer system) configured by an application may constitute a“module” that is configured and operates to perform certain operationsas described herein below. In other embodiments, the “module” may beimplemented mechanically or electronically. For example, a module maycomprise dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently configured(e.g., within a special-purpose processor) to perform certainoperations. A module may also comprise programmable logic or circuitry(e.g., as encompassed within a general-purpose processor or otherprogrammable processor) that is temporarily configured by software toperform certain operations. It will be appreciated that the decision toimplement a module mechanically, in the dedicated and permanentlyconfigured circuitry, or in temporarily configured circuitry (e.g.configured by software) may be driven by cost and time considerations.Accordingly, the term “module” should be understood to encompass atangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed,permanently configured (e.g., hardwired) or temporarily configured(e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner and/or to performcertain operations described herein.

While the machine-readable medium 1022 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present description. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to,solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wavesignals.

As noted, the software may be transmitted over a network using atransmission medium. The term “transmission medium” shall be taken toinclude any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carryinginstructions for transmission to and execution by the machine, andincludes digital or analog communications signal or other intangiblemedium to facilitate transmission and communication of such software.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure.

It may be appreciated that FIGS. 1-10 are merely representational andmay not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

In the foregoing description, various features are grouped together in asingle embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. Thismethod of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intentionthat the claimed embodiments have more features than are expresslyrecited in each claim. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporatedinto the description, with each claim standing on its own as a separateembodiment.

Thus, a method and system to push information related to items offeredfor sale to potential buyers or viewers have been described. Althoughembodiments have been described with reference to specific exampleembodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changesmay be made to these embodiments without departing from the broaderspirit and scope of embodiments as expressed in the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:identifying, using one or more processors, at least one item offered forsale by a seller m a network-based marketplace, the item associated witha listing and a first set of information describing the listing, basedat least on the first set of information, generating, using one or moreprocessors, a second set of information to supplement the first set ofinformation, wherein the second set of information comprises informationat least related to the item and further comprises information relatedto the seller of the item, generating, using one or more processors, oneor more multimedia programs, the one or more multimedia programscomprising at least some of the second set of information and includingan assembly of video snippets relating to the item and the seller of theitem, pushing, using one or more processors, the second set ofinformation and the assembly of video snippets to at least one user ofthe network-based marketplace; enabling a user to place an auction bidor make an informed purchase decision for the item for sale from theseller and based on the second set of information, and receiving anauction bid or purchase decision from the user.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the pushing of the second set of information is performedwhile the item remains offered for sale in the network-basedmarketplace.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set ofinformation includes price information, seller identificationinformation, and item description information.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the first set of information further includes current highestbidder identification information when the network-based marketplace isassociated with an auction format.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein thesecond set of information is further related to one or more bidders ofthe item.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set ofinformation is pushed to a webpage that displays the first set ofinformation.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set ofinformation is pushed as a video stream.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the second set of information is pushed at least as texts orimages.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of informationis pushed as television broadcast signals.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein the second set of information is pushed as screen savers. 11.The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of information is pushedto at least one non-user of the network-based marketplace.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, further including dynamically changing the second setof information.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein dynamically changingthe second set of information includes dynamically changing the secondset of information based on an identification of two or more itemsincluded in a user list.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprisingincluding information relating to the credit-worthiness of the seller ofthe item for sale, or a complaint made against the seller of the itemoffered for sale, in the second set of information.
 15. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising pushing the second set of information to theat least one user based on a detection that the at least one user issigned in to the network-based marketplace.